Something strange reported of that ‘strumpet’ mansion house in the neighbourhood…What exactly did happen….? (Part2)
Bible Verse
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:6 – 8 NKJV
Part of my role as a worker in the LORD’S vineyard, is to analyse biblical accounts of all the works of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, His commission/anointing of Jesus Christ earthly ministry.
Today’s headline message is based on a biblical report in the Old Testament book of Joshua Chapter 2: 1-24. The report starts with a sub-heading: RAHAB HIDES THE SPIES.
Personally, I try to avoid speculative and assumptive reports in almost all of my analysis, but in this report, I am tempted to adopt a rather poignant headline for the explanatory part of the message….. ‘the stigmatisation of an alleged strumpet’.
I find this report in the Bible somehow out of place and had wished that the names of the reporters to Jericho’s king were mentioned. This could suggest that the reporters could be beneficiaries or involved in the alleged trade of Rahab!! Or could be spies themselves (birds of the same feather flock together!!)…..I find the report as a very “Kiss and Tell” one!!! A bit like the treasurer of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Judas Iscariot! He was the treasurer, a thief and a betrayer!! (John 12:6; Matthew 26:47). Well, you could be saying right now, as a woman, I am being defensive of Rahab!
Interestingly, if a woman applies her ‘relational skills’ to create a ‘transactional business’ then the ‘voice of stigmatisation’ gets fiercely aroused in society! In the case of Rahab, the ancestress of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5), she was respectful to the king’s messengers and wisely sent them into the bush for 3 days/nights to keep their mouths shut whilst she hid the two men in her loft! I was hoping for more excitement in the Bible event, whereby Rahab summoned into the courtyard with her ‘harlotry’ BUSINESS BOOKS as proof of evidence, showing all her transactions for fees charged and taxes paid! A smart woman outwitted the king’s men!
A young 17 years old Joseph landed into the ‘prison hot-water’ when he fled from that ‘cougar predatory wife’ of Potiphar! The young man never opened his mouth to report that he was rather the ‘victim’! My dear reader, when men/women have the king’s ears, one can be accused wrongfully but always God would be the victim’s unknown witness!! (Genesis 39: 7-23)
If I am asked to say something from the 24 verses of the chapter, I could write a ‘CHARACTER JOB DESCRIPTION OF RAHAB’; I would say, she was a HOTELIER/RESTAURATEUR – WITH CASINO, COFFEE/DRINKS BAR/MALE MASSAGING PARLOUR/GYM-FITNESS FOR ROPE WALL CLIMBING MOUNTAINEERING SERVICES!
I am more of a ‘womanly opinion’ that Rahab was primarily running a NATIONAL HUMAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE.
The Juice of the Jericho Tabloid & Social Media Gossip!
- Rahab struck a deal with the two men she saved in her house by making and reaching a verbal agreement with them which resulted in her entire family’s salvation.(Joshua 2:12,13; Acts 16:31)
- Rahab as a foreigner (Canaanite woman), who told a bald-faced lie went on to marry a famous rich Jewish man called Salmon, from the tribe of Judah and became an ancestress of Jesus Christ!! How possible? Rich men and kings love very ‘hands-on’ relational women who could give them an excellent massage! Do you remember the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, wiped with her hair, kissed His feet and anointed him with alabaster fragrant oil in public?…at least not in private!!! The story would have been…it runs in the genealogical blood, this ‘harlotry lustful tendencies’!!! Luke 7:36 – 39
- From the womb of Rahab, we got King David and King Solomon with their womanizing traits!!, so at least I have given you something to gossip about!! (Salmon + Rahab = Boaz + Ruth = Obed = Jesse = David +Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife) = Solomon) Matthew 1:5,6
Now let us look at the SALVATION PRAYER OF RAHAB who was allegedly called these names: harlot | prostitute | slut | hooker | bit on the side | mistress | courtesan | whore | floozy | fallen woman | loose woman | painted woman | call-madam | lady of the evening | trump | concubine | nymphomaniac | hussy | the other woman | call lady | strumpet:
Joshua 2: 9 – 13
9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon, and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.12 Now, therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
Rahab confessed the realization that God is the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all that exists (Deuteronomy 4:39; Acts 14:15; 17:23-28), thus the Supreme One.
Rahab was a woman of FAITH…Hebrews 11:31
Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, called Himself ‘the friend of sinners and He said He did not come to call the righteous to repentance. He said, “The Son of man has come to seek and to save that which is lost”. (Luke 19:10)
How does the Holy Spirit get an individual whether transactional or relational being (male or female) to have a relationship with Him?
Answers:
- ‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day’. John 6:44
- ‘The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth’. Psalm 145:18. - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8
- For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2: 11,12
True Message for Today
The essence of CHRISTIANITY is based on the entirety of the HOLY SPIRIT enablement on earth through Jesus Christ. He is the power of the Highest who overshadowed the Virgin Mary to conceive and give birth to Jesus Christ. He anointed Jesus Christ for His earthly ministry. He raised Jesus Christ from the dead and helped Him to ascend to Heaven as a believer’s Apostle and High-Priest seated on the right-hand side of God the Father. Finally, the Holy Spirit will be the one to oversee the RAPTURE. Without the Holy Spirit, there will be NO CHRISTIANITY, NO FAITH!!! Faith is a gift from Him too. (Bible References: Luke 1:35; 4: 18,19; Romans 8:11).
Prayer for Today
Lord Jesus, l thank You for Your Holy Spirit. I eagerly yearn for a long-lasting relationship with Your Holy Spirit.
I pray that You will bless me this day with the fruit of Your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5v22,23.In Your great name l have prayed. Amen
Daily Bible Reading: Day 7
Old Testament: The Book of Joshua 2: 1 – 24.
New Testament: The Full Chapter of the Gospel of John Chapter 3: 1 – 21
Please support the work of spreading the Gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST by forwarding the daily lessons to all your friends, family members, and colleagues.
THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST IS VERY SOON!!!
Even so, come, LORD JESUS. AMEN